Writing a book is quite the feat, but once you're done, then what? There are several options that you can use to publish your book yourself and get it out there. Below we've listed some of the most popular and common options for self publishing writers.
KDP This is Amazon's eBook publishing platform for Kindle. If you've used Createspace previously, they are shifting things over so that both paperback and eBook publishing is done in one spot, but Createspace is still being supported. To keep things easy, we usually reccomend that our clients publish both versions of their eBook in one spot.
Lulu "Fiction and non-fiction writers alike can create, print, and sell their books through all major retail channels."
Lulu has a pretty stellar reputation for customer services and quality along with being a great resource for writers just getting started. They have a free PDF of success tips that you can download here.
Blurb "We believe in your stories, whatever they may be, whatever they may look like. They deserve to be told. So here’s another great idea we’ll throw out there: Let’s make beautiful, amazing, incredible books together."
Blurb's platform is great and perfect if you're putting together an art book or a children's book with lots of illustrations. Their print quality is amazing and beautiful.
Ingramspark IngramSparkSM has simplified the complex process of publishing books and distributing content around the world into a single, easy-to-use platform. One great benefit of Ingramspark is that everything is in one spot. You just need to be 100% certain that you are ready to publish and that all your files are finalized before you hit publish. There are added fees for changing your mind that can add up quickly.
Smashwords This one is an eBook distribution platform. It will distribute your book between all the major eBook sellers. The convenience is there but the royalties are different than if you set them up all on your own. Nook Press This is Barnes and Noble's version of CreateSpace. iTunes Here is information to sell your book on iTunes. Google Play Here is information to sell your book on Google's Play Store.
Know of another publishing platform that you're a fan of? Let us know and we'll add it to our list.